Method Actors

[Shellhead]

Method actors are actors who go to extraordinary lengths to get into character for an acting role. They might go on extreme diets or eating binges, do extra research to get into character, and even stay in character when the cameras aren't rolling, maybe even 24/7 until production is wrapped up.

Are method actors less talented, on average, than normal actors?

[JohnPopa]

Um, neither. Different actors use different approaches to create their characters. It's the performance that defines the work, not the steps taken. Acting isn't an exact science.

[Lubichev]

There is a famous story about Dustin Hoffman in "Marathon Man." He wanted to look like absolute hell for the torture/interrogation scene. Apparently, Laurence Olivier saw him in the morning of filming that scene and asked him what was wrong. Hoffman told him what he had been doing to get ready for the scene. Olivier said, "Dustin my dear boy, have you ever heard of acting?"

The Method has positive aspects, like being able to find the necessary emotion for a difficult scene or whatever, but I have seen first hand how actors can destroy themselves and ruin their personal lives for the persuit of the reality of the craft.

As an actor I find it helpful, but one always need to remember that ultimately, it is called "acting."

[BlairH]

Christian Bale:
He actually went out every night and fought injustice, and beat up criminals before they filmed Batman begins. Christopher Nolan congratulated him on his unique approach to method acting, to which our intrepid Bale replied "acting? Are you retarded kid? I'm the God damn Batman!"

[BoosterBronze]

I think acting is 80% just the natural charisma of the performer.

Method acting, and other intense schools of acting can only serve to take a good performance, and take it up a notch, and maybe turn a great perfomance into an amazing performance. I don't think really "being" the character could turn a mediocre performance great.

All the method acting in the world on my part couldn't make my performance more compelling than what Robert DeNiro phones in.

On the other hand his crazy method work is what takes Daniel Day Lewis and makes him the best part of whatever movie he's in, but I think even without the intense method acting, Lewis would still be considered one of the best in Hollywood.

[Phoney Bone]

There is no "method". There is only...

ACTING!!!

http://us.tv1.yimg.com/tv.yahoo.com/images/he/photo/tv_pix/nbc/saturday_night_live_episode_photos/_group_photos/john_lithgow9.jpg

[StoneGold]

Apparently, Laurence Olivier saw him in the morning of filming that scene and asked him what was wrong. Hoffman told him what he had been doing to get ready for the scene. Olivier said, "Dustin my dear boy, have you ever heard of acting?"


I seem to remember an SNL bit on that, where afterwards, Hoffman beat the shit out of him or something.

[artemisboy]

Supposedly Wesley Snipes wasn't Mr. Popular on the set of Blade 3 due to his anti-social actions towards the other actors. He said he was using Method Acting but reporters who visited the set found out that he was just smoking pot in his trailer and bitching about how he wasn't the star in the third film as a bunch of kids were hogging his spotlight. I can't remember what article that came from, but I'm sure if you google it, you'll find it.

- Peter

[Shellhead]

Supposedly Wesley Snipes wasn't Mr. Popular on the set of Blade 3 due to his anti-social actions towards the other actors. He said he was using Method Acting but reporters who visited the set found out that he was just smoking pot in his trailer and bitching about how he wasn't the star in the third film as a bunch of kids were hogging his spotlight. I can't remember what article that came from, but I'm sure if you google it, you'll find it.

- Peter

I watched Blade 3 again this last weekend, as part of a Halloween movie marathon with friends. Apparently Snipes decided to protest the "bunch of kids" hogging his spotlight by putting on one of the most wooden performances ever by a living, breathing human being. He sort of smiled a couple of times, and had several brief, stoic wooden lines, but otherwise Snipes was flat and dull.

[Tages]

I agree with David Mamet that method acting is wholly unnecessary. On the set of our latest project our female lead was method, whereas our male lead was not. They turned in comparably good performances.

[Ontir]

I agree, to some extent, that the Method is not entirely neccessary, but a great deal of great film has come from method actors, and I don't see the same commitment to material from non-method actors. Ultimately though, I think that whatever helps an actor get the performance to the audience, is what they should use. I've seen people deliver great stuff with both, and I've seen people unable to get at anything with both.

[Jared]

I always wonder just how "method" someone can really be during the interims between filming/performing. I mean, Henry the VIII would never be drinking coffee from a craft services table, nor using a flush toilet.

[Royal]

"GOD DAMN YOU METHOD ACTORS!"


-Vincent Price

[JohnPopa]

It can be a zone of thought and behavior, even if you're violating some aesthetics technologically. I'm not a method actor but I've certainly done theater where I took great steps to stay in the moment when offstage or during intermission, even if I was going to the bathroom or drinking Gatorade.

[Ontir]

I always wonder just how "method" someone can really be during the interims between filming/performing. I mean, Henry the VIII would never be drinking coffee from a craft services table, nor using a flush toilet.

Bette Midler said of Lilly Tomlin, that on the set of Big Business, Lilly was method, while she just walked on set, and delivered her lines. Between takes, Bette would joke with the crew and talk to people, but Lilly didn't because she was always working on her character.

Peter Jurasik said of Andreas Katsulis, that while making Bablyon 5 if you needed to talk to Andreas, you had to do it early in the day, because he was Method, and once he got into costume, you only got G'Kar!

Some people can go in, and out of character with no problem, while others essentially are themselves in different situations, and other still, take time and great concentration to affect someone who is not themself, in situations they would probably not find themselves in, but like I said before: Whatever gets the magic on the screen!